Tank for administering flowable substances

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a reservoir ( 100 ) for dispensing free-flowing substances, which comprises the following features: (a) reservoir ( 100 ) has flexible reservoir walls ( 2  and  3 ); (b) reservoir walls ( 2  and  3 ) are one-piece or connected to one another; (c) reservoir walls ( 2  and  3 ) form a sealed container, which has at least one opening ( 12 ); (d) reservoir walls ( 2  and  3 ) are connected at least partially to at least two flat standing elements ( 6 ), which are separated in the standing area of reservoir walls ( 2  and  3 ); (e) opening ( 12 ) has a closure ( 13 ), whereby at least portions of reservoir walls ( 2  and  3 ) and/or standing elements ( 6 ) consist of a composite material, which (i) consists of plastic laminates, or (ii) consists of at least one plastic laminate and an aluminum laminate, here, the laminates are connected to one another. Reservoir ( 100 ) is provided preferably to accommodate contrast media.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No.60/067,342, filed Dec. 2, 1997.

The invention relates to a reservoir for dispensing free-flowingsubstances. In this case, this is especially a container into whichpharmaceutical substances, preferably contrast media, are decanted. Theyare used as reservoirs for infusions. This application claims thepriority of the filing on Nov. 14, 1997 with the German Patent Officewith file number DE 197 51 406. In addition, for the USA, the USA-filingof Dec. 2, 1997 has the USA file number 60/067,342.

PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,967, which was issued on Mar. 22, 1994, describes areservoir that is suitable for dispensing infusion liquids. Such areservoir has flexible reservoir walls, which are bonded to one anotherin the edge areas. As a result, the reservoir walls form a sealedcontainer, which has two openings in the lower area. One of theseopenings is connected to the infusion instrument. The opening, whichextends into the infusion instrument, is on the lower part of thereservoir. The reservoir can be suspended, whereby in the upper area ofthe reservoir, the front and rear walls of the reservoir are bonded toone another, and the reservoir has an opening in the bonding area, whichmakes it possible to suspend the entire reservoir. In addition, thereservoir has a scale, which extends from above downward and is attachedto the reservoir.

From the detergent industry, reservoirs are also known in which liquiddetergent is located. Such containers have an opening which, in contrastto the above, is located in the upper area of the reservoir. Suchcontainers have a front and a rear reservoir wall, a front wall and arear wall, which all are flexible. They are bonded to one another in theedge areas. The reservoir walls are surrounded by standing elements,which are separated in the standing area from the reservoir walls. Thestanding elements are also bonded to one another in the side and upperareas, so that they form a container. Only in the bottom area, i.e., inthe lower area, do the standing elements in the filled state of thecontainer have no contact. In this area, the two standing elements arebonded to one another via the reservoir walls, which in this case formthe bottom portions of the reservoir. Such containers are usuallyprinted with colors and symbols. The disadvantage of this containerconsists in the fact that the corresponding materials are not compatiblewith pharmaceutical and diagnostic substances. The imprinting processhas also turned out to be problematical.

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION

The object is thus to present a reservoir with flexible reservoir walls,whereby the reservoir is stable enough to be able to stand in the filledor partially emptied state on a relatively small surface. In addition,the reservoir is to be compatible with pharmaceutical agents anddiagnostic agents and can be emptied without problems.

The object is achieved by a reservoir for dispensing free-flowingsubstances, whereby the reservoir comprises the following features:

-   -   (a) the reservoir has flexible reservoir walls;    -   (b) the reservoir walls are one-piece or are connected to one        another;    -   (c) the reservoir walls form at least portions of a sealed        container, said container has at least one opening;    -   (d) the reservoir walls are partially connected to at least two        flat standing elements,        -   which are separated from the reservoir walls in the standing            area; and        -   which are optionally portions of the sealed container,    -   (e) the opening has a closure and a connection, preferably a        double closure,    -   whereby        -   (i) portions of the reservoir walls and/or standing elements            are made of a material that comprises at least one plastic            laminate, optionally a composite material, and        -   (ii) the other portions of the reservoir walls and/or            standing elements are made of a composite material, which            comprises at least one plastic laminate and an aluminum            laminate,        -   in this case, the laminates are tightly connected to one            another.

Advantages

The invention has various advantages. Flexible reservoirs are verydesirable: they are easy to handle, and their shelf life and handlingentail no problems. As long as the reservoir walls are stable enough,tearing-off of the container will not occur. In addition, it isadvantageous to be able to use materials that have already been widelydistributed in the pharmaceutical industry. Infusion containers havebeen used for a long time, particularly with blood transfusions. Theyare made, however, of PVC material, which is very controversial from theecological standpoint. It is advantageous that the containers andreservoirs according to the invention can be set up with ease since theytake up relatively little space in the set-up position. On one and thesame surface, considerably more reservoirs can be safely set up thanwould be possible with flat containers.

When at least portions of the reservoir walls or standing elements aremade of composite materials with aluminum, printing of the correspondingreservoirs can be done with no problem. In this case there is theadvantage that neither adhesives, which must be used in the case oflabels, nor color residues can penetrate into the interior of thereservoir. Such contaminations are especially problematical and arise inparticular if the free-flowing substance, for example the contrastmedium, is to be stored over a long period of time. An aluminum laminatesuccessfully prevents the passage of dyes.

In addition, this ensures that the reservoirs can be printed in anirreparable way. It is advantageous that in addition to planar pressure,the letters or symbols can also be imprinted. As a result, precisematching of the reservoir contents to the reservoir outer surface ispossible. This prevents the reservoirs from being confused with oneanother. Thus, considerably greater reliability is ensured by using suchreservoirs in the area of medications and in the diagnostic field.

In addition, the aluminum laminate protects the contents of thecontainer from the environment. Release of the pharmaceutical agentcomponents and the entry of substances other than the pharmaceuticalagents are largely impossible. Also, it is not necessary to useadditional protective packaging for the standing floor containers whilethe pharmaceutical agent is in storage. In the case of repeated use(partial removal), the container contents are adequately protected bythe aluminum composite.

Due to the transparency of the front walls of the reservoirs, they canbe optically checked right after filling by the pharmaceuticalmanufacturer and before use by the physician. It should be emphasized inaddition that the opening of the reservoir is protected in multipleways. The opening, including the screw-valve closure, is surrounded by aprotective film, which is a part of the reservoir wall or is connectedto the latter.

Definition

A reservoir is a vessel in which free-flowing substances can bereceived. It is essential to the reservoir that the latter be able toseal off permanently such free-flowing substances from the outsideworld. In addition, it is important that the reservoir avoid alteringthe free-flowing substances contained within it. Pharmaceutical agentsor else diagnostic substances must not be chemically altered. Substancesmust also not penetrate the reservoir and either be dissolved in thefree-flowing substance or be mixed with the latter. In principle, theshape of the reservoir is not specified, but there are practicalconsiderations such as storage and outflow. Thus, when the reservoir isbeing emptied, it is to be ensured that the entire free-flowingsubstance can exit from it. The formation of cavities and angles fromwhich the free-flowing substance cannot escape is to be strictlyavoided. In the case of the reservoir, it is important that it can beeasily produced and can be easily filled with the free-flowingsubstance.

The reservoir walls have the object of separating the free-flowingsubstance from the environment and of preventing the free-flowingsubstance from exiting. Conversely, it is also important that substancesfrom the environment be prevented from penetrating the free-flowingsubstance. The reservoir walls are flexible when the operator appliesforce. Only when the reservoir is set up on the standing elements mustthe standing elements be rigid relative to the static forces of thereservoir. It is desirable for the reservoir walls to be impermeable toboth liquids and gases. In this connection, it can also be seen that thediffusion of gases occurs with almost any material. It is essential thatthe diffusion of gases be small, such that there is no impairment of thefree-flowing substance contained within the reservoir. The latter shouldalso not occur if the free-flowing substance in the reservoir is storedover a prolonged period, such as, for example, one to two years. It isessential that the reservoir walls have substances that increaseflexibility, but that cannot penetrate the free-flowing substance. Thus,for example, plastics also contain softeners. These softeners should beable to penetrate only to a negligible extent into the free-flowingsubstance.

Free-flowing substances are defined as all pharmaceutical and diagnosticsubstances. In this case, these are medications, including theirpharmaceutically compatible adjuvants and vehicles. It is commonly thecase that in addition to a liquid, gases in the form of a gas bubble arealso still found in reservoirs. In addition, free-flowing substancesalso comprise liquids, solids, and gaseous substances. Such mixtures aredescribed in W. Schröter et al.: Chemie, Fakten und Gesetze [Chemistry,Facts and Laws], Leipzig 1987, 14th Edition, p. 24. In addition,suspensions, emulsions, and micelle solutions, such as liposomes, arealso of interest.

The reservoir can be filled and emptied through the opening. In thiscase, a filling opening and an emptying opening that is separated fromit can be fastened to the reservoir. The openings are preferably bondedwith the entire reservoir, with the reservoir walls. The openings aresupposed to make it possible for the infusion instrument, including apumping device, to be connected with ease to the reservoir. The openingsmust be large enough to permit flow rates of 2-10 ml/sec through theopenings. Such openings are preferably sterilized and are protected fromcontamination by closure caps only after these closure caps are removedcan the infusion instrument or the pump be connected to the opening.Extreme sterility must be ensured since it has to be expected thatreservoirs, once opened, will have to remain free of contamination overseveral hours, indeed up to several days.

The standing elements have the object of making the reservoir, whichpreferably consists of two reservoir walls that are bonded to oneanother, stable enough that this reservoir can also stand up reliablywhen set up. The set-up form is defined such that the container comes tostand on one edge, whereby preferably the edge selected is the one thathas the smallest length and that lies against the opening. In this case,the standing elements should have holes which do not compromise thetightness of the reservoir but which make it possible to suspend theentire reservoir. This makes it possible for the reservoir to be able toflow out through the opening. This shows that the opening lies againstthe suspending device as much as possible. The standing elements arepreferably less flexible than the reservoir walls. They must beconnected to the reservoir walls at least in small areas to have theappropriate strength. In this case, a durable and reliable transitionbetween the reservoir wall and standing element is also to be ensured.The standing element does not need to touch the entire length of thebottom, but it is to be ensured that even when there are few contactpoints with the bottom, adequate stability of the reservoir is ensured.The standing elements can also be built in such a way that theyvirtually replace the reservoir walls as a whole. Only in the standingarea, i.e., in the lower area of the reservoir, are there reservoirwalls that are no longer directly connected to the standing element butrather via a welding seam or a pasted seam. Rather, the reservoir wallsbetween the standing elements in the standing area are built in such away that they extend in a sealing manner between the standing elements.In this case, it is advantageous if the surfaces that are formed by thereservoir walls behave like a fold in the lower area of the reservoirthat in the folded-together position points upward toward the opening.If the reservoir is filled, this fold, which consists of the reservoirwalls, folds downward and then forms the bottom of the reservoir. Inprinciple, the standing elements and the reservoir walls may be replacedin many areas. In this case, it is essential, however, that thefunctions still be ensured. The reservoir walls have the function ofpreventing gases and liquids from penetrating. The standing elementshave the function of providing adequate stability to the reservoir, sothat it comes to rest firmly in the upright position on the standingelements. The extent to which standing elements and reservoir wallsextend varies as desired from shape to shape. It is essential, however,that the standing elements be physically separable from one another inthe lower area, pointing toward the bottom. They are to border andencompass a standing area in the contact area with the bottom.

Plastic laminates are flat plastics, which are described in detail inRömpp-Chemie-Lexikon, publisher Jürgen Falbe and Manfred Regitz, 9thEdition, Stuttgart 1990, p. 2398 ff. Softeners and admixtures are alsonecessarily plastics. The plastics must have the property of beingflexible in the presence of the forces that are exerted by the operator.In the case of static forces that are present in a reservoir that is setup separately, the standing elements are to be essentially rigidrelative to the standing area. At the same time, the plastics shouldhave an absolute-sealing function, so that liquids and gases canpenetrate this plastic laminate only negligibly. The plastic laminatescan be transparent to various extents; they are preferably completelytransparent laminates. It should be possible preferably to bond or gluethe plastic laminates, so that wall portions can be connected to oneanother easily in the edge areas of the reservoir.

At least one portion of the reservoir walls should be covered with analuminum laminate. This is an additional laminate that is contained inthe plastic laminate. This has the advantage that as a result, the gaspermeability is suppressed in this portion of the reservoir. Inaddition, the aluminum laminate makes it possible for the aluminumlaminate to be printed on the side that faces away from the free-flowingsubstance toward the outside. Printing inks and solvents cannotpenetrate the aluminum laminate, so that there is absolutely no threatto the free-flowing substance. This is also guaranteed that after thefact the inscription will be tightly bonded to the reservoir. Theinscription can no longer be detached from the reservoir without thereservoir itself being destroyed in this case. This ensures that thereservoirs and the imprinting cannot be mixed up. Thus, aluminumlaminates show imprinting that in the case of weather effects or soakinghave made otherwise commonly bonded labels illegible or have detachedthem. Since aluminum is relatively rigid and can be embossed, theletters and symbols can also be stamped with pressure, so that evenafter loss of color, the imprinting can still be read. In addition,aluminum has the advantage that in the area which faces toward thefree-flowing substance, a mirror effect occurs. As a result, theobserver can immediately critically view the contents of the reservoir,if the wall opposite the aluminum laminate is made of completelytransparent material. The consistency, any possible contaminants, orproblems in the reservoir can thus be detected immediately.

Other Embodiments

A reservoir according to the invention, in which the reservoir wallscomprise a front wall and a rear wall, is advantageous. Such a reservoiris a very simple method, especially in terms of production. Two walls,namely the front wall and the rear wall, are placed on one another andbonded together in the outside areas, whereby a recess is provided forthe opening. In addition to bonding, the walls can also be glued. In theemptied state, such folding containers take up virtually no space. Owingto the standing elements, however, in the filled state, such a reservoiris readily able to stand firmly on an even surface. Thus, stabilityfunctions and minimization of the space requirement in the emptied stateare related to one another. Owing to their flexibility, it is alsopossible to store the filled reservoirs in a reasonable manner. Here,stacking various reservoirs on top of another can be done with ease.

A reservoir in which the rear wall is provided with an aluminum laminateis preferable; in this case, the front wall is transparent. Thecombination of the printability and the transparency of the oppositereservoir wall is the most advantageous. It ensures that the reservoiris to be provided with clear identification. Confusion regarding thesubstances and the reservoirs is no longer possible if other commonlyused precautionary measures are taken. In this case, the aluminumlaminate can be large enough to have a suitable label and also othercoding systems. On the inside of the aluminum laminate, pointing towardthe free-flowing substances, a scale can be found which indicates whatvolumes are still present in the reservoir.

Another very advantageous embodiment consists of a reservoir in whichthe front wall consists of polyester propylene and the rear sideconsists of polyester-aluminum-polypropylene. In this case, these arevarious layers that are connected to one another via bonding. In thiscase, they form so-called composite films.

Preferred are reservoirs according to the invention in which thealuminum is to be provided with a plastic laminate on the side thatfaces away from the interior of the container. This ensures protectionagainst tearing. Considerably greater tensile strength is imparted tothe container on the surface. Thin aluminum laminates that have thepreviously mentioned advantages can be torn easily by mechanical action.To prevent this and to ensure the previously mentioned advantages, thereservoirs are provided with the additional protective layer. Inaddition, this reservoir has a considerable advantage during production.Such outside surfaces can be simply bonded or glued, without hightemperatures having to be used. In this case, it is advantageous if thereservoirs are provided with outside plastic laminate at least in theareas of the sealing seams.

More preferred are reservoirs in which the inside laminate (facingtoward the interior of the container) is at least made of polypropylene,the middle laminate is made of aluminum, and the outer laminate is madeof transparent plastic. This three-layer structure is functional. Itcorresponds to plastic, aluminum, and again plastic.

In most cases, reservoirs are preferred in which the outside laminate ismade of polyester or polyamide. These are especially suitable materials.

Reservoirs according to the invention, in which the reservoir walls aremore flexible than the standing elements, are advantageous. This ensuresthat the reservoirs are able to stand upright no matter how full theyare. Preferred, however, are two filling stages; on the one hand, thecompletely emptied state, and, on the other hand, the completely filledreservoir. The reservoirs are usually handled by the operator in thesetwo states. The partially filled states occur only if correspondingamounts of free-flowing substance are removed from the reservoirs; thisoccurs if the reservoirs are normally emptied in a suspended form. Inthis case, the opening invariably comes to rest at the lowermost pointof the reservoir.

Reservoirs in which the reservoir walls are expansion-resistant areadvantageous. This ensures that, even under major pressures, such as canoccur when the reservoirs are stacked or are subjected to heavyshort-term stresses, the reservoirs cannot buckle relative to thereservoir walls. The latter is a desired form of safety that guaranteesthat the reservoir walls will be prevented, in a controlled way, fromtearing apart. In addition, the resistance to expansion guarantees thatthe reservoirs can also be stored in stacks at certain depots. This alsoprevents problems during filling.

More preferred are reservoirs according to the invention, in which thereservoirs have at least one suspension, which faces the opening. Thisensures that the contents of a reservoir can be completely emptied. Sucha suspension can be configured in various ways; it can just be an eye ora pitting, which is located in the wide welding seam of the reservoirwalls. It can also be an additional material, however, which isconnected in a flat manner to at least one of the reservoir walls. Thesuspension can also consist of a bayonet or adapter closure, which canbe connected to a corresponding complementary suspension on a frame. Inpractice, it is useful to arrange the suspension and the opening at adiagonal with respect to one another.

A reservoir according to the invention, in which the closure is a screwclosure with a tamper-proof closure and/or a closure that can be openedwith an adapter, is advantageous. This ensures that, on the one hand,removal can be carried out only once, and, on the other hand, sterilitycan be guaranteed. The problem of sterility is to be taken veryseriously, and corresponding solutions for this purpose are veryadvantageous.

Preferred in most cases is a reservoir of the type according to theinvention, whereby the opening including the closure is encompassed by aprotective film, which is part of the reservoir walls or is connected tothe latter. This ensures that after a sterilization process, which iscarried out after the reservoir is filled, a sterile closure alsoremains in this sterile form. This optimally ensures that contaminationof the connecting piece, which is connected to the pump or to theinfusion instrument, is avoided.

A reservoir in which the reservoir can be heat-sterilized isadvantageous. This should be a sterilization process that is carried outboth before and after the reservoir is filled.

After the reservoir has been partially bonded together, it is optionallypossible to clean the container of impurities.

As sterilization processes, the following are especially suitable:radiation sterilization or chemical sterilization.

As chemical sterilization processes, treatments with ethylene oxide,propan-3-olide, and diethyl dicarbonate, in addition to hydrogenperoxide and an ozone/steam mixture, are known.

Also, sterilization with high-energy radiation is possible. Here, gammarays and x-rays are known.

Clean-room production is an alternative. As a result, this firststerilization step can be omitted.

The reservoirs are optionally packaged in a sterile manner inbacteria-proof, but gas-permeable film or aluminum. Sterilization isdone by heat and/or chemical sterilization, with gamma rays or x-rays,neutron beams, or beta beams or a mixture of the above-mentioned beams.Preferred is treatment with hydrogen peroxide or an ozone/steam mixture.

Then, the reservoir is filled. Then, the filling opening is closed usingthe closure.

In the next step, the reservoir is heat-sterilized in an autoclave orsterilizer with hot air or using microwaves.

It is optionally possible to build up supporting pressure in thesterilizing room of the autoclave or the sterilization chamber by a gasin the sterilizing room, whereby the pressure on the outside surface ofthe reservoir is greater than, equal to, or less than the pressure onthe inside surface of the reservoir. The supporting pressure can bedefined as the pressure that corresponds to the sum of the partialpressures in the sterilizing room minus the partial pressure of thesteam.

The packaging of the sterilized reservoirs in a container and thesterilization of the filled container are especially essential. Thisprocess can be carried out in a sterile room. This step is especiallyadvantageous since it provides a precaution to offer the attendingphysician a reservoir that is also sterile externally. This reduces thedanger of contamination. The reservoirs that are to be emptiedmechanically are frequently used in sterile operating rooms. Onlysterile or disinfected materials should be introduced into these rooms.Thus, a reservoir that is to be emptied mechanically must be absolutelysterile externally.

Very preferred are reservoirs in which the free-flowing substance is amedication or diagnostic agent, most preferably a reservoir in which thediagnostic agent is an imaging diagnostic agent. These are the followingcontrast media with the generic names: amidotrizoic acid, gadopenteticacid, gadobutrol, gadolinium EOB-DTPA, iopamidol, iopromide, iotrolanand iotroxic acid.

EXAMPLE

The invention is presented in the drawing by way of example.

In this case, FIG. 1 depicts a reservoir that is shown in upright,standing form.

FIG. 2 shows a reservoir in suspended form, whereby the reservoir issuitable for emptying the free-flowing substance.

FIG. 3 is a back perspective view of the reservoir of FIGS. 1 and 2,showing the reservoir full or partially full and free standing, and

FIG. 4 is a front perspective of the reservoir of FIGS. 1 and 3 showingthe reservoir full or partially full and free standing.

A reservoir 100 can be seen in FIG. 1. In this case, the observer looksat front wall 2, which is transparent. Here, front wall 2 could haveonly a transparent longitudinal strip, whereby the remaining area couldbe coated with aluminum. By two variants, this makes it possible to seerear wall 3, which is connected over the entire width and over length Ato aluminum foil. The aluminum foil is located outside on the plasticfilm of rear wall 3. Front wall 2 and rear wall 3 are connected to oneanother via a welding seam 4 to form a pouch which contains the freeflowing agent. This welding seam 4 has varying thicknesses. In the areaof long side A, the welding seam is relatively large compared to thewelding seam in the bottom area 5. Here, the rear and front wallsdirectly adjoin one another, and no aluminum is present here. In avariant that is not depicted in the Figure, the bottom can also be madeof aluminum, thereby maximizing the surface that is coated with aluminumand at the same time making it possible to perform optical checksthrough the front wall.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, standing element 6 is in area C over theentire width of reservoir 100. In this case, standing element 6comprises a front standing element 8 and a rear standing element 9, bothof which are connected to one another via welding seam 7. Front standingelement 8 and rear standing element 9 are connected in the area of line10 to front wall 2 and rear wall 3. In this case, front standing element8 and front wall 2 come directly into contact, as do rear standingelement 9 and rear wall 3. front standing element 8 and rear standingelement 9 have a crescent-shaped recess 10. In this area, the portion ofthe idealized rectangular standing element is replaced by either frontwall 2 or rear wall 3.

The reservoir has a suspension hole 11 at the first end of the pouch,which faces the opening 12 at the second end of the pouch. Opening 12comprises both a valve 16 and a closure 13, which must be removed beforethe container is emptied. Closure 13 is a screw closure. Opening 12 andclosure 13 are encompassed by a protective film 14, which has a frontside and a rear side. In addition, the protective film has apredetermined point of break 15, which makes it possible to removeprotective film 14 with ease. Here, great care must be taken to ensurethat the opening does not become contaminated. It is possible to removethe closure with non-sterile fingers, but the internal area of closure13 and opening 12 must not become contaminated in so doing.

FIG. 2 shows a reservoir 100 in suspended form, whereby reservoir 100 issuspended on suspension element 11, such that opening 12, which isdiagonally disposed with respect to the suspension element, forms thelowest point. For reasons of the drawing, the lowest point of thereservoir can be arranged not down on the side but rather in the right,lower corner.

It can also be seen that protective film 14 has already been removed.Closure 13 is still in opening 12, however.

List of Reference Symbols:

-   100 Reservoir-   2 Front wall-   3 Rear wall-   4 Welding seam of the reservoir walls-   5 Bottom of the reservoir-   6 Standing element-   7 Welding seam of the standing element-   8 Front standing element-   9 Rear standing element-   10 Line-   11 Suspension-   12 Opening-   13 Closure-   14 Protective film-   15 Predetermined point of break-   16 Valve

1. A reservoir (100) for dispensing free-flowing substances comprising:(a) flexible reservoir walls (2 and 3); (b) the reservoir walls (2 and3) being one-piece or being connected to one another; (c) the reservoirwalls (2 and 3) forming at least portions of a sealed container, saidcontainer having at least one opening (12); (d) the reservoir walls (2and 3) being connected at least partially to at least two rigid flatstanding elements (8 and 9) which support the reservoir when resting ona supporting surface, the standing elements being separated at astanding area of the reservoir walls (2 and 3); and which standingelements (8 and 9) optionally are portions of the sealed container, whenthe standing elements (8 and 9) are held in spaced relation to oneanother when the reservoir (100) is full or partially full, to therebyprovide a base for supporting the reservoir (100) on the supportingsurface with the reservoir (100) extending upwardly therefrom; (e) theopening (12) having a closure (13) and a connection, wherein (i)portions of the reservoir walls and/or standing elements are made of acomposite material, which comprises at least one plastic laminate, and(ii) the other portions of the reservoir walls and/or standing elementsare made of a composite material, which comprises at least one plasticlaminate and an aluminum laminate, the laminates being tightly connectedto one another.
 2. Reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the reservoirwalls comprise a front wall (2) and a rear wall (3).
 3. Reservoiraccording to claim 2, wherein the rear wall (3) is provided with analuminum laminate; and the front wall (2) is transparent.
 4. Reservoiraccording to claim 3, wherein lettering is printed on the aluminumlaminate.
 5. Reservoir according to claim 3, wherein the front wall (2)is comprised of polyester-polypropylene, and the rear wall (3) iscomprised of a polyester-aluminum-polypropylene laminate.
 6. Reservoiraccording to claim 3, wherein the aluminum laminate is provided with aplastic laminate on a side that faces away from the interior of thecontainer.
 7. Reservoir according to claim 6, whereby the aluminumlaminate is made of a polypropylene inner layer, an aluminum middlelayer, and a transparent plastic outer layer.
 8. Reservoir according toclaim 7, wherein the outer layer is made of polyester or polyamide. 9.Reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir walls (2 and 3)are more flexible than the standing elements (6).
 10. Reservoiraccording to claim 1, the reservoir walls (2 and 3) are resistant toexpansion.
 11. Reservoir according to claim 1, the reservoir (100) hasat least one suspension (11), which faces opening (12).
 12. Reservoiraccording to claim 1, wherein the closure (13) is a screw closure with atamper-proof closure or is a closure that can be opened with an adapter.13. Reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the opening 12, includingthe closure (13), is encompassed by a protective film (14), which ispart of reservoir walls (2 and 3) or is connected to the latter. 14.Reservoir according to claim 1, the reservoir (100) can beheat-sterilized.
 15. Reservoir according to claim 1, wherein thefree-flowing substance is a medication or a diagnostic agent. 16.Reservoir according to claim 15, wherein the diagnostic agent is animaging diagnostic agent.
 17. A reservoir for containing and dispensingfree flowing medication or diagnostic agent therefrom, comprising: apouch portion with first and second ends, the pouch portion having frontand rear flexible walls attached along edges thereof for containing afree flowing agent, the front wall being transparent and the rear wallbeing an aluminum/plastic lamination; a rigid stand portion at the firstend of the pouch portion, the rigid stand portion having a frontstanding element and a rear standing element connected to one another bythe front and rear flexible walls, wherein the standing elements areheld in spaced relation with respect to one another when the pouch isfull or partially full, thereby providing a base for supporting thereservoir on a supporting surface with the pouch extending upwardlytherefrom; an opening in the second end of the pouch for pouring out thefree flowing agent, upon opening a closure associated therewith, and asuspension element at the first end of the pouch for hanging thereservoir up side down with the opening facing downwardly so that uponopening the closure, the free flowing agent drains through the opening.18. The reservoir of claim 17 wherein a diagnostic agent is an imagingdiagnostic agent.
 19. The reservoir of claim 17 wherein the suspensionelement is a hole through the material forming the pouch portion in aportion not containing the medication or diagnostic agent.
 20. Thereservoir of claim 17 wherein a protective film encloses the opening andclosure at the second end of the pouch, the protective film exposing theclosure upon being cut or torn adjacent the closure.
 21. The reservoirof claim 17 wherein the opening and closure at the second end of thepouch are diagonally disposed with respect to the suspension element atthe first end of the pouch.